Race track



Oct. 30, 1945.

V. J. SCHMIDT RACE TRACK Filed Oct. 23, 1944 T W? m w Q H w M A, N w w e W Th 121/ 0 n r 1. T

Patented Oct. 30, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RACE TRACK Vernon J. Schmidt, Long Beach, Calif.

Application October 28, 1944, Serial No. 560,773

12 Claims.

This invention has to do with a race track and has particular reference to a track for racing miniature vehicles such as miniature or toy automobiles, or the like, and it is a general object of the. present invention to provide a track of the bowl or saucer type that does not have certain of the disadvantages which have heretofore characterized tracks of that kind.

Si .all vehicles, such as miniature automobiles, are raced for amusement or for exhibition. When such vehicles are raced on the usual saucer or bowl type track they are run on raceways arranged one within the other and therefore they must be handicapped. To have the vehicles race to a common finish line they must be either handicapped as to time of start or position of st. rt on the track. In practice such handicapping makes it dimcult to estimate or observe the relative progress of the several vehicles and detracts largely from the pleasure or amusement derived from the sport. Handicapping such as I have referred to is necessary because when the raceways are laid out in circles or courses, one located within the other the circles increase in length as they are removed from the center about which the track is formed, with the result that the outermost course is considerably longer than the innermost course and each course is of a length difierent from any other.

It is an object of this invention to provide what I will term a saucer type track, that is, a looped or substantially circular track which is such that the several vehicles being raced can start and finish at a common line and each travel an equal distance in the course of the race.

Another object of the invention is to provide a track of the general character referred to which is such that several vehicles can be started in given relationship or order across the track and will finish in that same order after having each traveled an equal distance around the track and after each has made several turns around the track.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanyin drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a typical track embodying the present invention, which track is in the form of a loop and is more specifically in the form of a somewhat flattened ellipse so that it has two straight parallel side portions joined by grooved end portions. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken substantially as indicated by line 22 on Fig. 1, showing a car or vehicle on the track. Fig. 3 is a view taken as indicated by line 3-3 on Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken substantially as indicated by line 4-4 on Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken substantially as indicated by line 55 on Fig. 2.

The present invention provides a continuous or loop-like track for handling a plurality of vehicles so that they can he raced one against the other and it has particular reference to that general type of track commonly referred to as a bowl or saucer track, although all parts of the track do not need to be pitched or banked in the manner found in a true saucer or bowl type track. When I use the term saucer track I mean to include any looped or continuous track and mean to include a track that may be truly saucer-like or banked throughout or which is only banked at parts, or which may not have any banking whatever.

In the particular form of the invention illustrated I show a track which I will term a saucer track but which has straight parallel side portions A and B spaced a substantial distance apart and curved end portions C and D which join the ends of the straight parts A and B. In accordance with conventional track construction where the track may be said to be small with relation to the speed at which the vehicles travel, the curved parts C and D are banked, the degree of banking being governed by the factors of curvature and speed. In general the track that I have provided may be described as a single continuous loop and, in accordance with my invention, the track has a single continuous raceway X which makes several turns around the track and which is characterized by what I will term an offset section Y which joins the inner and outer turns.

The raceway may, in any particular embodiment of the invention, vary with the character of the track or with the form or type of vehicles being raced. In the case illustrated I have shown a simple form of track which may be said to be in the nature of a flat board and the raceway instead of being a projecting rail or pair of rails, or other form of addition to the board, is merely a groove or channel cut in the board to present parallel spaced opposed side Walls It. The channel is uniform in width throughout its length and is of such depth as to properly accommodate the retaining means employed in connection with the vehicles.

In the example illustrated I provide self-pro pelled miniature or toy vehicles ll which simulate automobiles. Each vehicle has a body I2 supported on two pairs of wheels l3.

The retaining means M which I have provided may vary widely in practice, depending upon the vehicles employed, the type of track, etc. In the case illustrated I have shown a means H! which provides each vehicle I l with two longitudinally spaced depending posts [6 which enter the channel X and rollers I! are provided on the posts to operate in the channel. As shown in the draw-- ing the rollers I! may be supported on antifriction bearings l8 so that the retaining means operates with a minimum of friction. It is to beunderstood, of course, that the diameter of the rollers I1 is related to the width of the channel X so that the rollers operate in the channels without binding and yet maintain the vehicles in truly parallel relation to the raceway or channel. The retaining means may in some cases be such as to lock or positively retain the vehicles on the track. However, in the simple form of the invention illustrated I have simply shown the posts l6 and rollers I! entered in the channels so that the vehicles can be readily lifted from the track in the case of an emergency.

In accordance with my invention the channel X is a single continuous channel forming a single continuous raceway serving to simultaneously guide several vehicles. In the case illustrated I have shown a raceway arranged or formed to simultaneously handle six vehicles, that is, the groove X or raceway is formed to have or to make six turns on the track. Considered at the transverse line 20 which I have shown at the straight side A, and which I will term the start and finish line, the several turns of the raceway are designated 30, 3|, 32, 33, 34 and 35, and these several turns progress in order outwardly, so turn 38 is innermost and turn 35 is outermost.

In accordance with my invention the single continuous raceway or groove is laid out in a manner that may be termed spirally so that it has a plurality of successive turns around the track such as the turns 39 to 35, inclusive, and it has the innermost turn occurring at one straight side joined with the outermost turn at the other straight side by an oifset section Y. In the case illustrated the innermost turn occurring at straight section B of the track is joined with the outermost turn at the straight section A' by the ofiset section Y.

The oifset section Y is termed offset because it is at an elevation which is offset or removed from the balance of the track, so that it, serves to. carry a car between the inner and outer turns or, for example, from the inner turn at straight section B to the outer turn at straight section A without interfering with cars on the other turns. In the arrangement; illustrated the offset section Y is at the end of the track where the curved portion D 1s located and it is oifset upwardly or is elevated from the balance of the track so that a car passing from the inner turn of the raceway at section B passes over the several other-turns in reaching the outer turn at section A.

In accordance with my invention the offset section has end or approach portions Bil which gradually rise from the main level of the sections A and B where they join those sections to points spaced well above the general level of the track where they join the elevated center portion 6! which passes over the other turns of the raceway. It is to be understood that in practice the end or approach portions Goof the offset sections can be of sufficient length so that the vehicles gradually change from the main or normal elevation of the track to the elevation of the center portion of the offset section without materially affecting their operation. The degree of elevation of the center portion 6| of the oifset section needs to be only sufficient to allow vehicles on the other turns of the track to pass under it with working clearance. In Fig. 4 I illustrate the pitch or inclination of the end portions 60 of the offset p0rtion and show the elevated condition of the center portion SI of the ofiset section.

With the raceway a single continuous raceway and with the several turns spirally related, a car or vehicle started at the line 20 will, after making six turns around the track, have made five turns on the normal level of the track, making one passage around each of the several turns, and will have made one turn or passage along the oifset section so that it returns to its original position. With the result of the arrangement that I have provided several vehicles, say for instance, six vehicles started simultaneously at the line 20 can be raced around the track through six circuits thereof so that each vehicle has traveled exactly the same distance and they will all finally finish at the same line 20. In the course of a race each vehicle will make five circuits of the track at the normal level and one circuit over the oifset section. The vehicle starting and finishing on the innermost turn 30 at line 20 will pass over the ofiset section on its first circuit while the vehicle starting and finishing on the outermost turn will pass over the offset section on its last circuit and on each circuit of the group of vehicles around the track one of them will ass over the offset section.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims:

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A race track in the form of a continuous loop and including a single continuous spiral raceway for guiding vehicles, the raceway having an offset section at an elevation ofi'set from the remainder of the track to pass vehicles between the inner and outer parts of the track.

2. A race track in the form of a continuous loop and including a single continuous spiral raceway for guiding vehicles, the raceway having an offset section above the remainder of the track to pass vehicles between the inner and outer parts of the track.

3. A race track in the form of a continuous loop and including a single continuous raceway for guiding vehicles, the raceway being spirally formed and having an offset section at an elevation offset from the remainder of the track to pass vehicles between the inner and outer turns of the raceway.

i. A race track in the form of a continuous loop and including a single. continuous. raceway spirally formed to have turns removed various distances from the center of the track, there being an offset section joining the inner and outer turns of the raceway.

5. A race track in the form of a continuous loop and including a single continuous raceway spirally formed to have turns removed various distances from the center of the track, there being an ofiset section joining the inner and outer turns of the raceway, the offset sections having inclined end portions joining the normal level of the track and having a center portion joined to the end portions and removed far enough from the normal level of the track to allow free passage of a vehicle between it and the normal level of the track.

6. A race track in the form of a continuous loop and including a single continuous raceway spirally formed to have turns removed various distances from the center of the track, there being an ofiset section joining the inner and outer turns of the raceway, the offset sections having inclined end portions joining the normal level of the track and having a center portion joined to the end portions and removed far enough above the normal level of the track to allow free passage of a vehicle between it and the normal level of the track.

'7. A race track in the form of a continuous loop with two pairs of difierently shaped portions, one straight side portions and the other curved end portions joining the side portions, the track including a single continuous raceway spirally formed and having its inner and outer turns joined by an ofiset section, the ofiset portion having inclined ends joining the two portions of one of said pairs of portions and having an elevated section spaced over one of the portions of the other of said pairs of portions.

8. A race track in the form of a continuous loop with straight side portions and curved end portions joining the side portions, the track including a single continuous raceway spirally formed to have inner and outer turns and having an offset section joining the inner and outer turns and having a central elevated portion spaced over one end portion and. having an inclined end portion joining the central portion with the inner turn at one side portion and an inclined end portion joining the central portion with the outer turn at the other side portion.

9. A race track in the form of a continuous loop with straight side portions and curved end portions joining the side portions, the track including a single continuous raceway spirally formed to have inner and outer turns and having an offset section joining the inner and outer turns land having a central elevated portion spaced over one end portion and having an inclined end portion joining the central portion with the inner turn at one side portion and an inclined end portion joining the central portion with the outer turn at the other side portion, the end portions and said central portion being banked.

10. A race track in the form of a continuous loop with straight side portions and curved end portions joining the side portions, the track including a single continuous raceway spirally formed to have inner and outer turns and having an offset section joining the inner and outer turns and having a central elevated portion spaced over one end portion and having an inclined end portion joining the central portion with the inner turn at one side portion and an inclined end portion joining the central portion with the outer turn at the other side portion, there being a single line across the track for start or finish.

11. A race track in the form of a continuous loop with straight side portions and curved end portions joining the side portions, the track including a single continuous raceway spirally formed to have inner and outer turns and having an offset section joining the inner and outer turns and having a central elevated portion spaced over one end portion and having an inclined end portion joining the central portion with the inner turn at one side portion and an inclined end portion joining the central portion with the outer turn at the other side portion, there being a single start or finish line across the track at one of the side portions.

12. A race track in the form of a continuous p and including a single continuous raceway for guiding vehicles, the raceway having a plurality of courses continuous with each other and in side by side relationship at any given point along its length and having an offset section at an elevation offset from the remainder of the track to pass vehicles between the inner and outer parts of the track, there being a single start or finish line across the track.

VERNON J. SCHMIDT. 

